Inside the New York Yankees clubhouse with MLB.com beat writer Bryan Hoch.

The Boss pays a visit

With the Yankees wrapping up their regular-season slate on Sunday with a 10-2 win over the Rays, principal owner George Steinbrenner dropped in with a few words of motivation for his playoff-bound club.

Steinbrenner spent about an hour with the Yankees in the visitors’ clubhouse at Tropicana Field before their regular-season finale, making the trip from his home in Tampa, Fla.

“It was really great to see him,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.”Everyone came in and saw him. He was in great spirits. It was good.”

Steinbrenner, 79, also attended the Yankees’ 6-2 win on July 29 in St. Petersburg, and he was at the new Yankee Stadium for the opener on April 16. Steinbrenner told The Associated Press that he is “excited” for the upcoming postseason.

Girardi said that after Tuesday’s game, Steinbrenner arranged a team party at the Yankee Stadium ‘NYY Steak’ restaurant, which the players appreciated. Girardi summarized Steinbrenner’s message to the team as: “Just keep going — keep doing what we’re doing.”

In addition to Steinbrenner, general partner Jennifer
Steinbrenner-Swindal and senior vice president Felix Lopez made
clubhouse appearances on Sunday.

Steinbrenner is not expected to travel to New York for the American League Division Series, but he will likely be in attendance for selected games if the Yankees advance. Hal Steinbrenner stated earlier this week that his father is planning to be present if the World Series is played in the Bronx.

“That’s the plan, particularly if — and when, I should say — we make it to the World Series,” Hal Steinbrenner said. “He’ll absolutely be here.”

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5 Comments

RCN Golf

Your points are valid

I have broken down all components as

Home Advantage first two games = Big +
Record against opposition Twins Sox Tigers Big + especially back half of season
Management Giradi has been a +
Team Cohesion seems a sensational big +
Staerting Pitching Just a +
Bull Pen especially with Joba in there is a Huge +
Offence 1 through 9 with Posada at the plate is huge
Defense especially with Texeira is quality in all positions of infield
Performances under pressure with 16 walk off wins and ARod hitting the go ahead or tying run in so many games is a sign of a solid post season for him.
Real quality and speed off the bench
The only weakness in my opinion is when Molina is in the game behind the plate as is offence has not been good.

I have to think that this is just a different team. I think the atmosphere is different. I think when Andy Pettitte can be your number 3 starter behind CC and AJ and when your pen has shown some strength with Mo and Hughes and Robertson, probably Gaudin and probably Joba, the feeling is that winning 3 out of 4 is attainable. I think from a offensive standpoint, again Cano and Swisher have proven to be the biggest suprises. Jeter is having an MVP year. Arod seems like a different player this year. Tex has been here before and unlike so many “1st Yankee season” busts he has proven to be WELL worth the investment the Yanks put into him last off season. Damon and Melky have both had VERY good seasons considering the Melky wasn’t even the starting CF’er at the beginning of the season. And our bench isn’t exactly weak either with decent depth on both sides of the plate with Cervelli, Hinske, Guzman. Lastly, we have home field ad which means that Matsui will be in for the majority of the games and when he’s not, he’s a pinch hitter off the bench.
All in all I just don’t think that they’ve played like a bunch of high priced primadona’s this season. It looks MUCH more like a team effort. I think that the clubhouse vibe is definitely different too. The pie-in-the-face for a walk off? I’m excited.

I am interested in your take or the take of anyone else. Correct me if I am wrong but the last time The Yankees went into the post season after winning their division easily. I think they clinched with 10 or 11 games out. They then went up against LAA and were swept 4-0. How has this team prepared any different mentally and phsically than on that occasion. I think there is something for having to play hard right down to the wire as is the case with The Twins and The Tigers.

The difference this time is that A Rod does not have the pressure alone to carry the team he has some solid very solid offensive support. The pitching also has some very solid starters with a rock solid bull pen especially with Joba being added. His innings yesterday said it all. He looked and was aggressive even his cap was dirty. He can be relied upon for 1-2 innings or 3- if the starters falter. I have two days off before the first game so I have the chance to test out my Cobra A$530 driver, hopefully it is one of those drivers that is on auto pilot for 250M

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